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Tag: CAN

  • CAN lauds Trump, asks Buhari to ‘Sit Up’

    CAN lauds Trump, asks Buhari to ‘Sit Up’

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) says the comment of the United States President, Donald Trump, on the killings in Nigeria was the right thing and a wake-up call to President Muhammadu Buhari.

    During his meeting with Buhari at the White House on Monday, Trump described the killing of Christians in Nigeria as a serious problem.

    “We have had very serious problems with Christians who are being murdered in Nigeria, we are going to be working on that problem very, very hard because we cannot allow that to happen,” Trump said.

    And in its reaction, CAN said Trump hit the nail on its head, saying the Republican president told Buhari the right thing.

    Spokesman for CAN President, Pastor Bayo Oladeji, called on the Buhari administration to address the killings in the country.

    “We are happy that President Trump has told President Buhari the right thing to do. We hope and believe President Buhari would do the right thing and sit up. He has to sit up,” he said.

    “Every time we tell them Christians are being killed, they don’t want to listen, but that is the truth. If the President cannot protect Christians, we have two options, we fight back. The law of the land permits self-defence. Secondly, come 2019, we vote him out. If he says there is nothing Christians can do, let him dare us.”

  • Muslims are victims of senseless killings too, MURIC tells CAN

    The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to see ongoing attacks by suspected herdsmen as not a sectional issue but a tragedy that befalls every body in the country.

    The group made this remark in reaction to last week’s call by the president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for Christians across the country to hold demonstrations after church service on Sunday over killings in the Middle Belt and other regions of the country.

    Last Sunday Christians in states like Lagos, Akure, Osogbo and Ado-Ekiti held peaceful protests in response to the directive of the CAN chairman.

    MURIC’s director, Ishaq Akintola, said as much as his group respects the feelings of the Christians in the country concerning the development in the Middle Belt, CAN should also understand that Muslims are also direct victims of the herdsmen’s violence.

    “…We reaffirm our earlier position that Christians have not been the only victims of the killings around the country,” he said.

    He added that “Muslims are losing hundreds of faithfuls on a monthly basis in the North East as Boko Haram unleashes terror on the predominantly Muslim populace.

    Citing recent examples of communal violence as reference point, th MURIC boss said “36 Muslims were killed in Birane Village in Zurmi Local Council, Zamfara State on February 16, 2018.

    “Six Muslims were killed in Jidari Polo area of Maiduguri on April 26, 2018.

    “Even yesterday, Sunday 29th April, 2018, another 15 Muslims were killed in Bawon-Daji village, in Anka District of Zamfara. Again, more than 12 Muslims were waylaid and killed in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, when the corpses of the two priests killed in the Benue church attack were brought to the city. These are verifiable attacks by those free of the ‘lazymania’ virus.

    “So the question arises: why kill innocent Muslim travellers when peaceful protests were already being planned?

    “The pointable point is that we are all victims. Both Christians and Muslims have lost their members to criminals and blood-thirsty elements of our country.
    Professor Akintola however pointed out that rather than the CAN calling for a one-sided protest rally, it would have made more impact had both of the two religious groups had a joint protest.

    “Meaningful impact could have been made if both Christians and Muslims held a joint protest against the failure of government to stem the tide of killings.

    “That would make it impossible for observers to read meanings into yesterday’s protest. It would stop questions like, “Why are they demonstrating now? Is it because Buhari is a Muslim? Why didn’t they protest when Jonathan was in power? Were there no killings in Jonathan’s time? Do they want to bring Buhari’s government down?”.

     

  • Killings: Protest erupts in Delta as CAN begins special prayers

    Members of Calvary Baptist Church in Abraka, Delta state held a peaceful protest against the President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s inability to bring to an end incessant killings of innocent citizens across the country.

    This follows the directives of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) calling on all churches to protest the incessant killings, even as the Kano State chapter of the Association has decided to embark on intense prayers to stop the spate of killings.

    The protesting members in Delta state carried placards with various inscriptions, “No more shedding of innocent blood in Nigeria”, “Release Miss Leah Sharibu and Chibok girls now”, and “Enough is enough”.

    According to the Calvary Baptist Church, over the past two years, available records show that killer Fulani herdsmen have killed over ten innocent farmers in Abraka.

    Reverend Adeolu Samuel, the Kano state chairman of CAN, at a news conference on Sunday explained that there was need for the Federal Government to declare the killers as terrorists and rise against them, while the military should also confront them as such.

    The CAN president also appealed to the Federal Government to go extra miles in freeing Leah Sharibu and the other abducted Chibok Girls by the terrorists.

    According to Samuel, CAN demands that the government look out for the sponsors of such killings and bring them to justice.

    The association, however, commended the Kano Emirate and the state government for ensuring that the state was peaceful and safe for all to live in and worship.

     

  • Christians take to street, protest senseless killings in Nigeria [PHOTOS]

    Christians after the close of church service on Sunday in Akure took to the streets to protest the incessant killing of Nigerians including Christians in the northern part of the country.

    TheNewsGuru reports President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Reverend Samson Ayokunle had earlier directed all Christians in the country to protest across the length and breadth of the nation.

    The directive was contained in a statement signed by the CAN’s President special assistant on media and communication, Adebayo Oladeji, that decried the high rate of killings in the country is slowly turning Nigeria into a state of “anomie”.

    The statement said the protest will be aimed at canvassing government’s increased commitment towards the release of abducted Dapchi student, Leah Sharibu, Chibok girls as well as other innocent Nigerians held captive by the Boko Haram terror group.

    Today in Akure, the capital of Ondo state, Christians were captured carrying placards in protests asking President Muhammadu Buhari’s government to take more actions to bring to an end the senseless killings happening in the country.

    See photos:

    Christians take to street, protest senseless killings in Nigeria [PHOTOS]
    Christians protesting in Akure on Sunday…
    Christians protesting in Akure on Sunday...
    Christians protesting in Akure on Sunday…
    Christians protesting in Akure on Sunday
    Christians protesting in Akure on Sunday

    Meanwhile, the President of CAN, in the statement, had directed that the protests must be peaceful.

    According to the statement, the killings have only persisted because of what the association describes as government’s inability to effectively arrest the situation.

    “CAN urges Christians in Nigeria to hold peaceful protest on the set aside date, in the premises of their churches asking the Federal Government and the security agencies to stop the unending killings and bloodshed in the country.

    “Christians are to carry placards with inscriptions meant to address issues about sustained killings, attacks and destruction of their property in Nigeria. The inscriptions on placards could read, “Enough of bloodshed in Nigeria”, “Enough of unlawful killings in the country”, “FG, Release Leah Sharibu from the bondage”, “FG, Stop Herdsmen Killings”, “CAN rejects FG’s poor handling of insecurity”, etc.

    “It also dedicates same day for prayers for the freedom and liberty of Leah Sharibu, the remaining Chibok Girls and others still in captivity of the Boko Haram terrorists. We are already at a breaking point and a state of anomie is almost here.

    “CAN notes that the failure of the government to raise an effective campaign against the killings by herdsmen is the reason they have continued to kill, while there is no visible plan to pacify the aggrieved.

    “The Association also calls on the heads of the security agencies to wake up to their constitutional role of protecting lives and property across the federation while preventing Nigeria from descending into chaos and a lawless country,” the statement read.

    The association described the killings as inimical to the progress and unity of Nigeria.

    “Lastly, it reminds Christians across the federation the importance of the forthcoming general election and the need for them to fully participate this time, by trooping to obtain their voters cards with which to play a role in the emergence of new set of political leaders in Nigeria during next year’s elections who could guarantee their security and safety,” the statement highlighted.

     

  • Killings: Buhari more concerned with 2019 to continue reign of terror – CAN

    …says president driving Nigeria back to dark age

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of placing his 2019 re-election bid above the safety of lives and properties of Nigerians.

    It noted that the President did not care about the number of citizens that may end up as sacrificial lambs for his ambition.

    Speaking to journalists at a news conference in Abuja on Friday, the General-Secretary of CAN, Rev. Musa Asake chronicled the killings and bloodshed across the states, noting that the Buhari Administration had returned the nation to the dark age.

    “War seems to be looming in Nigeria while the aggressors are no other than misguided individuals who had been armed to provoke different communities into needless battles.

    “Yet, President Buhari, who was popularly elected in 2015 has not seen the need and urgency to issue a presidential order on the need to halt the killings and with stern instruction to heads of security operatives to bring perpetrators to book,” he said.

    Asake added, “The Dark Age that has come with the Administration of President Buhari in Nigeria is giving the Christians in this country a huge concern.

    “All the same, Mr. President has his own interests, a key of which is to seek re-election to remain in power beyond 2019 and continue with the reign of terror in Nigeria. It does not matter how many Nigerians will end up as a sacrificial lamb on that single ambition.”

    The CAN scribe lamented the murderous activities of Islamist insurgents whom he said were killing Christians daily across the country.

    He expressed shock that supposedly educated Nigerians could engage in what he called legalised murder based on retrogressive worldview.

  • Benue: CAN frowns at incessant killings, urges Christians to protest across Nigeria

    Sequel to Tuesday’s killing of two serving priests and 13 worshippers of the Catholic Church in Benue State, the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has urged Christians to protest across Nigeria.

    In a statement by Adebayo Oladeji, the special assistant on media and communication to the CAN President, Samson Ayokunle, the association said the high rate of killings in the country is slowly turning Nigeria into a state of “anomie”.

    The statement said the protest will be aimed at canvassing government’s increased commitment towards the release of abducted Dapchi student, Leah Sharibu, Chibok girls as well as other innocent Nigerians held captive by the Boko Haram terror group.

    Recall that over 15 people were killed during an early morning attack at Saint Ignatius Catholic church in Benue State on Tuesday, including two priests.

    According to the statement, however, the Christian association is asking the federal government to increase efforts towards the arrest and prosecution of herdsmen, as a measure for curtailing the problem.

    “CAN urges Christians in Nigeria to hold peaceful protest on the set aside date, in the premises of their churches asking the Federal Government and the security agencies to stop the unending killings and bloodshed in the country.

    “Christians are to carry placards with inscriptions meant to address issues about sustained killings, attacks and destruction of their property in Nigeria. The inscriptions on placards could read, “Enough of bloodshed in Nigeria”, “Enough of unlawful killings in the country”, “FG, Release Leah Sharibu from the bondage”, “FG, Stop Herdsmen Killings”, “CAN rejects FG’s poor handling of insecurity”, etc.

    “It also dedicates same day for prayers for the freedom and liberty of Leah Sharibu, the remaining Chibok Girls and others still in captivity of the Boko Haram terrorists. We are already at a breaking point and a state of anomie is almost here. ”

    According to the statement, the killings have only persisted because of what the association describes as government’s inability to effectively arrest the situation.

    “CAN notes that the failure of the government to raise an effective campaign against the killings by herdsmen is the reason they have continued to kill, while there is no visible plan to pacify the aggrieved.

    “The Association also calls on the heads of the security agencies to wake up to their constitutional role of protecting lives and property across the federation while preventing Nigeria from descending into chaos and a lawless country.”

    The association described the killings as inimical to the progress and unity of Nigeria.

    “Lastly, it reminds Christians across the federation the importance of the forthcoming general election and the need for them to fully participate this time, by trooping to obtain their voters cards with which to play a role in the emergence of new set of political leaders in Nigeria during next year’s elections who could guarantee their security and safety,” the statement highlighted.

    Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the latest attack while insisting that his administration will do everything possible to arrest the perpetrators.

  • Senseless killings: CAN calls for Christian ritual

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has directed all churches in Nigeria to observe a Christian ritual by processing around their worship centres to call for the end of senseless killings in the country.

    CAN President and President of Nigerian Baptist Convention, Reverend Sampson Ayokunle, made the call in his sermon during the 105th Annual Convention of the Nigerian Baptist Convention at Ndele, Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State on Sunday.

    The CAN President said the procession will also serve as a call for the release of Leah Sharibu, and the remaining Chibok girls being held in captivity by dreaded Boko Haram group.

    Reverend Ayokunle decried the rate at which the Federal Government allow senseless killings to fester across the country.

    Speaking further, he said that it was disheartening that persons without the requisite qualifications gain authority beyond their capacity.

    He said the governance process has been stagnated due to the lack of capacity.

    Ayokunle called on Christians to actively participate in the forthcoming general election to ensure that a responsible government is enthroned in 2019.

    Prayers were said for Nigeria, Rivers State and the State’s Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike.

    Speaking at the convention, Governor Wike declared that the invasion of the Senate was an official plot by the Federal Government (FG) to overthrow the Senate Leadership.

    Wike also declared that the FG is still plotting to frame him, saying that the latest plan hatched by the FG is for someone programmed by the security agencies to claim that he received $3 million from the Rivers State Governor.

    “They plotted to overthrow the leadership of the Senate, but they failed. What you saw was a horrible design to remove the Senate leadership.

    “If you know the Security architecture of the National Assembly, nobody can go in easily and leave easily without the gates being shut. These people entered and left unchallenged.

    “When the Senate gave the Police a 24hour ultimatum to find the mace, our Nigerian Police became so efficient that they traced the Mace to where it was left under the bridge,” the governor said.

    The governor said it was unfortunate that the President went abroad to de-market the country by claiming that the youths are lazy.

    He said no investor will invest his resources in a country where the youths lack productive capacity.

    Governor Wike called on Nigerians to work towards a new administration at the Federal level in 2019, noting that the collapse of national security, welfare and development are enough reasons for a change of direction.

    “We are not looking for people who will give us excuses. Since they cannot work, they should allow those with capacity to take over in 2019,” he said.

    The Nigerian Baptist Convention attracted thousands of Baptist members to Ndele, Rivers State.

     

  • Invasion of Senate was plotted by FG says Gov. Wike

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that the invasion of the Senate was an official plot by the Federal Government to overthrow the Senate Leadership.

    Governor Wike also declared that the Federal Government is still plotting to frame him, saying that the latest plan hatched by the Federal Government is for someone programmed by the Security Agencies to claim that he received $3million from the Rivers State Governor.

    He spoke during 105th Annual Convention of the Nigerian Baptist Convention at Ndele, Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State on Sunday.

    The governor said: “They plotted to overthrow the leadership of the Senate, but they failed. What you saw was a horrible design to remove the senate leadership.

    “If you know the Security architecture of the National Assembly, nobody can go in easily and leave easily without the gates being shut. These people entered and left unchallenged.

    “When the Senate gave the Police a 24hour ultimatum to find the mace, our Nigerian Police became so efficient that they traced the Mace to where it was left under the bridge”

    The governor said it was unfortunate that the President went abroad to de-market the country by claiming that the youths are lazy.

    He said no investor will invest his resources in a country where the youths lack productive capacity.

    Governor Wike called on Nigerians to work towards a new administration at the Federal level in 2019, noting that the collapse of national security, welfare and development are enough reasons for a change of direction.

    “We are not looking for people who will give us excuses. Since they cannot work, they should allow those with capacity to take over in 2019,” he said.

    In his sermon, President of Nigerian Baptist Convention, Rev Sampson Ayokunle directed all churches in Nigeria to process around their worship centres to call for the end of senseless killings in the country.

    The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria said the procession will also serve as a call for the release of Leah Sharibu and the remaining Chibok girls held in captivity.

    Rev Ayokunle decried the rate at which the Federal Government allow senseless killings to fester across the country.

    Speaking further, he said that it was disheartening that persons without the requisite qualifications gain authority beyond their capacity. He said the governance process has been stagnated due to the lack of capacity.

    Ayokunle called on Christians to actively participate in the forthcoming general election to ensure that a responsible government is enthroned in 2019.

    Prayers were said for Nigeria, Rivers State and Governor Wike. The Nigerian Baptist Convention attracted thousands of Baptist Members to Ndele, Rivers State.

     

  • Ignore Theresa May’s advice on legalisation of same-sex marriage, CAN tells Buhari

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Sunday advised the federal government to disregard the counsel of British Prime Minister, Theresa May, on same sex marriage.

    The advice is contained in a statement issued by Adebayo Oladeji, the Special Assistant on Media and Communications to the CAN President, Olasupo Ayokunle, in Abuja.

    Recall that Ms May, while speaking at the first joint forum at Commonwealth Head of Government Meetings in Westminster, said there should be no laws criminalising same-sex relationships across the Commonwealth.

    She was quoted as saying: “As the UK’s Prime Minister, I deeply regret that those laws were introduced. As a family, we must respect one another’s cultures and traditions, but we must do so in a manner consistent with equality, as it is clearly stated in the Commonwealth
    charter.

    “Nobody should face discrimination or persecution because of who they are or who they love and the UK stands ready to help any Commonwealth member wanting to reform outdated legislation that makes such discrimination possible.”

    The CAN president, however, noted that the position of Ms May was ungodly, satanic, reprehensible, condemnable and should be rejected by all right thinking people globally, especially in Nigeria.

    He said that Nigerians had unanimously resolved to do away with same sex marriage.

    He added that Nigeria cannot return to its vomit mainly because of a view canvassed by the British Prime Minister.

    The statement reads: “If we may remind the British authorities, the same-sex marriage contradicts the position of the Scripture and any human law that contradicts the Bible cannot stand.

    “God is the author of marriage and He stated it clearly that it involves a man and a woman.

    “In addition, The Bible states: ‘A man will leave his father and his mother and he must stick to his wife and they must become one flesh.’ (Genesis 2:24).Jesus our Saviour confirmed that marriage should be ‘male and female.’—Matthew 19:4.”

    “The plan of God for marriage is very clear. Men and women are designed to complement each other so they may be capable of satisfying each other’s emotional and sexual needs and of providing children.

    “The Bible condemns homosexuality as an immoral and unnatural sin. Leviticus 18:22 identifies homosexual sex as an abomination, a detestable sin. Romans 1:26-27 declares homosexual desires and actions to be shameful, unnatural, lustful, and indecent. First Corinthians 6:9 states that homosexuals are unrighteous and will not inherit the kingdom of God. Since both homosexual desires and actions are condemned in the Bible, it is clear that homosexuals “marrying” is not God’s will, and would be, in fact, sinful.

    “This is the position of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and any government that dares to make same sex marriage lawful is not only asking for the wrath of God but that of the Christians and other well meaning Nigerians.

    “The fact that British authorities or all countries of the world practise or allow it does not make it right. Whatever that is ungodly is unacceptable to CAN and to Nigerians.

    “The British Prime Minister should take a lesson from all animals in the bush. As wild as beasts may be, they never contemplate till today indecent sexual relationship of same sex.

    “Same sex marriage is Sodomy and it was one of the major reasons God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah in the Bible. No human right should set aside the commandment of God. Man cannot be God to himself/herself.

    “Same sex marriage is not acceptable in Nigeria because it is human madness and CAN is confident that our government will never contemplate introducing it.”

    “For the sake of emphasis, CAN stands by the moral situations according to the Holy Book. We contend that on no account should our government bow to pressure by making Nigeria capitulate while embracing strange culture that allows barren amorous relationship between same sex, not in tandem with mother nature.

    “The sovereignty of Nigeria allows it to stick fervently to its good law, morals and values and to reject any influence by strange cultures from other climes that is anti-human.”

  • Dapchi Christian girl: Archbishop of Canterbury offers to contribute to negotiations

    After weeks Dapchi Christian girl, Leah Sharibu, has remained in lone captivity, and as Nigeria continues to battle Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen menaces, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has repeated his offer to contribute towards peace negotiations in the country.

    The Archbishop of Canterbury, following his January’s tweet, reiterated his offer to contribute towards any peace negotiations while fielding questions on the deteriorating security situation in Nigeria put to the British government in the House of Lords on Monday.

    “I once again exhort President Muhammadu Buhari and other authorities, civil and religious, national and international, urgently to build a coalition to end this violence immediately.

    “In communications earlier this year with the Primate of All Nigeria, His Grace Nicholas Okoh, I offered to contribute towards such effort to the extent such might be useful. I repeat that offer again, knowing, however, that within Nigeria are all the skills needed for resolution of the suffering of the people.

    “My condolences go to those who have lost loved ones and property. I urge the authorities to seek for ways to ameliorate their sufferings and losses. I call on all people of goodwill to continue to pray for the peace of Nigeria,” Archbishop Justin said.

    TheNewsGuru reports President Buhari had assured the parent of the lone girl in Boko Haram’s captivity and the entire Dapchi community that he won’t abandon her because of her bravery not denounce her religion.

    However, weeks after, Leah Sharibu is still in captivity; even after the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, confirmed that the Boko Haram terrorists were set to release her.

    Meanwhile, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) had called on all churches and Christians to use the occasion of Easter to offer prayers to God for Leah Sharibu’s freedom and safe return.

    Others, including the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, have appealed for the safe return of Leah Sharibu.